Picture: Roy Tan
Tarantino Live continues at Riverside Studios, London until 30 July 2023.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The poster line sums up this magnificent piece of work fabulously ‘a pulp rock experience!’ Tarantino Live is brilliantly different. An adrenaline-fuelled, genre-bending theatrical performance, combining Quentin Tarantino’s style, film snippets and that funky quintessential soundtrack, which by the way throbs mercilessly in the background. The result is a 360° experience. Think live music hits theatre to create a mashed-up party vibe, just as Tarantino would want.
For the Record Live has produced a homage to Tarantino which could live on stage for quite some time to come.
The opener assaults all senses. Soothed by classic bad boy film clips, icy drinks waiter-served, and edgy dark to spotlit lighting, I awaited Tarantino Live’s start. We are greeted by James Byous’ (Butch) breathtaking vocals, his range pure and his character mad grit. He always commands the stage, whether dancing, singing or acting, it’s always memorable. Pure gravitas.
All cast members are top notch. Strength of vocals dominate and the dances are brilliantly animated. George Maguire (Vincent) and Tara Lee (Mia) lead atmospherically, fulfilling their roles superbly. Mark Isherwood also shines brightly as lead to the Tyranny of Evil Men.
Such a clever concept to have Fox Force Five Fierce Females and the Tyranny of Evil Men pitted against each other. There are layers to this show, which you can explore. Everyone has a role to play and no one stands back, they all take centre stage – it is a family. Tarantino Live has chapters, it is a great musical book to recommend.
Unique choreography (Sumie Maeda), lighting (Chris Davey) and set design (Matt Steinbrenner) hit the sweet spot, mixing drop screen projection (Perry Freeze/Z Frame), clever lighting, scaffolding and cast placement. It is all engaging and clever thanks to Shane Scheel (producer and co-creator).
The show kept me entertained as the show moved swiftly along, as all Tarantino films do. Tarantino Live is pure entertainment and I left happy with a spring in my step, and a beaty song in my heart. Good Tarantino times.
Laura-Jane Wareing
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